Members are said to be angry that they have not been widely consulted over plans for the biggest shake-up in the health service for 30 years.

The proposals, which will involve the abolition of five health authorities and the creation of 22 local health boards, have already come under fire from NHS professionals and opposition AMs in the National Assembly.

Last week, it was reported that the Lib-Lab coalition had come under severe strain amid claims Health Minister Jane Hutt had ignored the wishes of Labour's Liberal Democrat partners.

Today, Liberal Democrat councillor Jacqui Gasson, a member of the Cardiff Community Health Council, said the reforms will mean more bureaucracy.

Cardiff CHC criticised many of the planned NHS reforms in its submission to the assembly government's proposals.

And Coun Gasson said: 'I don't know any Liberal Democrat who is in favour of creating more quangos.

'It was not in our manifesto and was not part of the partnership agreement.

'There is a lack of accountability. Local health groups are just glorified talking shops.'

Acting Welsh Liberal Democrat health spokesman Peter Black defended the proposals, but admitted they had not been debated by the party as a whole.

But he added: 'There are plenty of Liberal Democrats who support these proposals. I think we have got the balance right.'

Leading think-tank the Institute of Welsh Affairs last month said plans to abolish the five health authorities will increase costs, reduce democratic transparency and should be delayed.

The chairman of the IWA's research panel, Gareth Jones, is also chairman of the Welsh Liberal Democrat policy committee.

Former Welsh health minister Jon Owen Jones also criticised the reforms in the House of Commons yesterday.

The Labour MP for Cardiff Central said the changes will increase NHS bureaucracy without improving patient services.

Conservative party health spokesman David Melding claimed there is 'root and branch opposition' among Welsh Liberal Democrats to the reforms.

'They are just not defending the interests of the NHS in the way the party's membership expects,' he said.